Admisión para programas
de certificados

At National University, you can pursue any of over a dozen career-focused credential programs to elevate your teaching career:

• Alternative Route to Licensure Elementary
• Alternative Route to Licensure Secondary
• Clear Administrative Services Credential Induction Program
• Clear Education Specialist Teaching Credential
• Inspired Teaching and Learning with a Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
• Inspired Teaching and Learning with a Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Internship Option (California)
• Inspired Teaching and Learning with a Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential
• Inspired Teaching and Learning with a Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential and Internship Option (California)
• Preliminary Education Specialist Authorization Teaching Credential
• Pupil Personnel Services Credential School Counseling
• Pupil Personnel Services Credential School Psychology (PPSP) Program
• Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential
• Special Education Generalist Alternative Route to Licensure

National University accepts and reviews applications year-round, so you can start learning as soon as next month, depending on your program of study and location of choice. Plus, we offer four-week courses, so you can focus on one subject at a time, one month at a time, and finish your degree faster.

National University generally accepts transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions, subject to certain criteria. Here are some actions you can take to find out whether your credits will transfer: 

• Apply to National University today. If you’re ready to make a major change in your education, applying to a new school is the most important step you can take. Once your application is in our system, we can help you determine which, if any, credits are transferable 
• Contact NU Admissions for personal, one-on-one support from an enrollment advisor
• Contact your school about having your transcripts sent to National University. The Registrar’s Office should be able to assist by providing us with your sealed official transcripts 

Want to get a quick estimate of how many of your credits will transfer? Use our credit transfer calculator for undergraduate transfer students

Find out how to transfer college credits to National University.

Yes! In honor of our students, and in celebration of our 50th anniversary, National University has invested $50 million in new student scholarships. To learn more about numerous scholarships and grants funded by National University, how to apply, and how much you might be able to save on your teaching credential, click here.

We’re a Veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible, achievable higher education to adult learners. Today, we educate students from across the U.S. and around the globe, with over 200,000 alumni worldwide.

The value of a college education is undeniable. Think of an industry-relevant teaching credential as an investment in your future.

At National University, we strive to make higher education accessible and achievable by helping you find financial aid, including grants, loans, and scholarships, that will help defer or delay tuition costs and related expenses. Our financial aid representatives are happy to help you. Please call 1-800-NAT-UNIV or e-mail us for assistance.

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Many credential programs require candidates to meet a US Constitution requirement. There are different options for fulfilling this requirement. Candidates may do this by verifying completion of one of the following:

• The candidate successfully completed a college or university level course that covered the principles and provisions of the US Constitution with a grade of “C” or better. (Examples include U.S. History 1600-1887 or American Government.)
• The candidates passed an approve US Constitution examination offered by some County Office of Educations, college, or university.
• The candidate successfully completes National University’s Training and Development US Constitution course and exam. Please contact Training and Development if you are interested in this course.

Candidates should speak with a Credential Advisor for assistance in verifying completion of this requirement or for assistance.

Many of our students are currently working in a school as full-time teacher with an Emergency Long Term Substitute Permit. These permits are valid for one year and require verification that the candidate is enrolled in a credential program and that they have successfully completed at least nine-quarter units toward their teaching credential. This is verified by completion of a CL-469 by a CCTC-authorized signer.

If you need to obtain a CL-469, please review the CL-469 Request Form and contact a Credential Advisor. They will be able to verify eligibility and facilitate the completion of this form for your employment.

Student teaching requirements and placement policies can be found in the Student Teaching Handbook. This handbook outlines all National University policies and procedures for supportive teaching through the program.

Subject matter competency is how the University and the state verify that a candidate has met the requirements to teach a particular subject area to students. This can be verified by passing the California Subject Exams for Teachers (CSET) in the appropriate subject area in which a candidate is seeking a credential. Students who are seeking a single subject teaching credential (typically for junior high or high school) may also verify subject matter competency by completing a CCTC-approved subject matter equivalency program and providing appropriate documentation. All students are required to verify subject matter competency prior to being placed into student teaching.

Candidates seeking a teaching credential in the areas of Agriculture, Business, Health Science, Home Economics, and Industrial and Technology Education may take the Single Subject Assessment for Teachers Exam (SSAT) to verify subject matter competency.

Candidates who have passed the formerly required Praxis & SSAT examinations (including the MSAT) may have met subject matter competency. Scores are valid five years from the date taken. Please speak with a Credential Advisor for assistance if necessary.

For further information for the CSET and/or SSAT examinations, please visit www.cset.nesinc.com.

Toward the end of the credential program, usually during student teaching, field experiences, or internship courses, candidates need to apply for the teaching credential. To do this, make an appointment with a Credential Advisor. At this appointment, the Credential Advisor will assist you with completing the application, collect the required materials for the CCTC, and send it to the Processing Center at the National University Administrative Office in San Diego.

Credential Technicians will review the application and, if all necessary documents have been verified, will send the application to the CCTC for document granting. At the same time, the Processing Center will send the applicant a Verification Letter of Completion that may be used to obtain employment until the credential is received from the state.

National University offers a number of alternative certification programs, to allow candidates to participate as Interns. These intern programs encourage students to obtain employment as Intern Teachers, where they will be compensated as the “teacher of record” while they simultaneously complete coursework to improve their teaching skills.

Teacher candidates interested in this program must be approved by program faculty to participate in the internship program. They must also obtain fingerprint clearance, verify passage of the CBEST, fulfillment of subject matter competency in the appropriate area, fulfillment of the US Constitution requirement, and verify an offer of employment as an Intern. The candidate is also responsible for completing some pre-service coursework. Once all of these requirements have been met, the candidate will meet with a Credential Advisor to apply for the Intern Credential.

For the Administrative Services Intern program, candidates must also meet with faculty to approve participation in the program. Candidates must also supply a copy of a valid California credential, verification of three years of experience as a credentialed person in schools, two letters of recommendation (one from the superintendent), and verification of passing CBEST scores. Once all of these requirements have been met, the candidate will meet with a Credential Advisor to apply for the Intern Credential.